Electrical torpedo-net.



A. HEDINA.

ELECTRICAL TORPEDO NET.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6. I918- Patented May 7/ tection for both sides of a vessel; and that,

net, the latter being suitably ALBERT HJEDIN'A, 0F LAPORTE, INDIANA.

ELECTRICAL roaPEno-nnr.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 191%..

Application filed March 6, 1913. Serial No, 220,845.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, ALBERT HEDINA, a subject of Austria, residing at Laporte, in the county of Laporte and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Torpedo-Nets, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to certain improvements in torpedo nets, adapted to be carried by vessels as a protection against torpedo attack, and thereby prevent possible serious injury to or foundering of the vessel.

The object of the invention resides in the provision of a torpedo net adapted to explode the torpedo by an electrical current. the circuit of which will be closedby and pass through the torpedo upon piercing the supported by and in spaced relation with the sides of the vessel, so that the explosion will occur sufiiciently remote from the hull of the vessel to materially minimize the force of the explosion with respect to, jury to the vessel.

The invention in thepreferred form of details will be described in the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 isa side elevation of a net embodying the invention, and diagrammatically illustrating a torpedo which has pierced the net.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing one end of one of the electrical conductors.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the electrical conductor in retracted position.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the reference numeral 5 designates a net section, it being contemplated that as many sections may be utilized as may be necessary to aflord proby constructing same in sections, the same may be made of a size and weight to be easily handled and supported from the sides of a' vessel. The net sections, which will all be of identical construction, are intended to be suitably supported by booms or other sultable devices projected from the sides of the vessel, and adjoined end to end to jointly form a length eorrespon ding to thelength of the vessel. It is also intended that the net be supported a suliicient distance from the formed flanges 10. or entirely prevent insides of the vessel, and. submerged a suitable distance so as to intercept sub-surface torpedoes aimed at the hull thereof Inasmuch as the particular means for supporting the nets forms no part of the present invention, such means is not shown or described, as it is intended that any suitable means may be employed for the purpose.

The net preferably consists of a rectangle lar frame 6, which may be made of metallic bars or other suitable material, and provided with a series of relatively spaced upright bars 7 fixed at their ends to the frame. Extending lengthwise of the frame and transverse the uprights 7, are tubular rods 8 made of any suitable non-conducting material and sufliciently fragile to break rather than bend upon impact therewith by a propelled torpedo. The rods are terminally formed at one end with enlarged cylindrical casings 9, from which extend integrally forming a closure for the ends thereof, and serving as a means for securing the same to the end members of the frame, which may be accomplished by rivets 11 passed through the flanges and frame members and headed on both ends. As shown, the enlarged ends of the rods 8 are secured to the opposite ends of the frame in relatively alternate relation, and alternately extend in opposite directions through openings in the uprights 7 and the ends of the frame, in which manner they are suitably supported. The two lower rods are bent upwardly without the opposite ends of the frame, and the rods above are alternately joined therewith, as at 12, thus providing communication through the terminals 13 and 14: to either of the rods joined therewith. Leading into the tubular rod terminals 13 and 14 from a source of electrical energy, and extending throughout the length thereof, are electrical conductors or wires 15 and 16, connected with the source of electrical energy in a manner to have opposite polarity, the conductors being fully protected against short circuiting, as when submerged, by the rods housing the same. which are intended to be made of any suit able waterproof and non-conducting mate rial. The conductors are intended to have limited endwise movement within the rods in the direction of their dead-end terminals upon being severed, each being formed at their dead-ends to provide a spiral or coiled Jim spring 17,- housed within the enlar ed rod ends or casings 9, with their ends xed, as by means of clips 18, to the end of the casing. The conductors when installed are drawn to bring the spring ends thereof under-tension, as shown in Fig. 2, and when any of the rods with their contained conductors are severed at any point of their length, the tensioned spring ends thereof serve'to shift the sectional part intact with its spring end in the direction of the latter, as shown in Fig. 3.

It. is assumed that the torpedo fired at the vessel and to be intercepted by the net, is of a construction having electrical conductivity and containing an explosive charge which will be fired by heat generated through the resistance of some of its metallic parts to the free passage of the current, or by the arcing of the current due to some loose or spaced parts which a high tension current will span. Upon the torpedo A hitting the net in a manner to sever two of the rods and contained conductors of unlike polarity, the springs of the latter serve to shift the dead-ends of the conductors away from and out of contact with the torpedo, as indicated at 19 and 20 in Fig. 1, the respective other ends of the conductors no longer having connection with their spring ends remaining fixed and in contact with the torpedo, as indicated at 21 and 22. As the shortest distance between the two contacting terminals with the torpedo will be diametric of the latter and thus offering the least resistance, the current will pass through instead of following the circular outer portions thereof, and thus reach and explode the charge in the manner above explained. By retracting the dead-ends of the severed wires or conductors in the manner above stated, all danger of the free ends thereof remaining in contact with the torpedo and in sufliciently close proximity with the other conductor terminals to jointly form a shorter circuit than would otherwise prevail, that is, diametric of the circular torpedo, as represented by the dotted line 23, is efiectively overcome. It is to be understood, of course, that the conductors will be spaced in sufiicient close relation to prevent a torpedo from piercing the net without severing two of the same.

While the foregoing is the preferred form of my invention, I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise structure shown and described, as it is obvious that the same may be variously Having thus described my invention. what.

is claimed is:

1. A tor edo netcomprising a frame, and a series 0 relatively spaced electrical couductors arranged to have alternate opposite polarity carried by the frame.

2. A torpedo net comprising a frame, a series of relatively spaced electrical couductors arranged to have alternate. opposite polarity carried by the frame, and means for holding the conductors under tension.

3. A torpedo net comprising a frame. a series of relatively spaced electrical eonductors arranged to have alternate opposite polarity carried by and having terminal connections with the frame, and means for moving the terminal portions of the conductors out of contact with an object severing the same.

4. A torpedo net comprising a frame, a series of relatively spaced electrical conductors arranged to have alternate opposite polarity carried by the frame, and tubular waterproof and non-conducting members housing the conductors.

5. A torpedo net comprising a frame. a

series of relatively spaced electrical eonduc tors arranged to have alternate opposite polarity carried by and having terminal connections with the frame, tubular waterproof and non-conducting members housing the conductors, and means under the influence of which the portional terminal lengths of the conductors will be moved out of contact with an object severing the same.

6. A torpedo net comprising a frame, and a series of insulated relatively spaced electrical conductors arranged to have alternate opposite polarity carried by the frame, the conductors of like polarity having their frame terminals fixed to the same and in opposite relations with the respective frame en s.

7. A torpedo net comprising a frame. a series of insulated relatively spaced electrical conductors arranged to have alternate opposite polarity carried by the frame, the conductors of like polarity having their frame terminals fixed to the same and in opposite relation with the respective frame ends, and coiled springs formed at said terminal ends to normally hold the conductors under tension.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ALBERT HEDINA. 

